Louisiana Mayor Convicted

Derek A. Lewis, 50, of Port Allen, Louisiana, pled guilty to violating the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO). Lewis, the mayor of the City of Port Allen, Louisiana, had been charged by a federal grand jury with a variety of offenses related to his taking of bribes while mayor.

Lewis’s conviction is part of Operation Blighted Officials, an investigation utilizing undercover operations to determine the extent and scope of public corruption. As part of the operation, individuals working undercover for the FBI posed as businessmen affiliated with a company involved in the development of a conceptual product known as the “Cifer 5000.” During his guilty plea, Lewis admitted that, during the period from October 2008 through June 2010, he used his position as mayor to take actions favorable to the businessmen.